The month the light comes back
Iceland in January: Daylight, Snow and What to Expect in the South
January has a reputation as the hardest month in Iceland. Cold, dark, after the holidays and before the light comes back. It is the month people book last.
The light is already returning. Over the course of January, the day near Selfoss grows by more than two and a half hours. The month starts in deep winter and ends with the sense that something is changing.
The short answer
January in South Iceland brings real winter: snow and ice on the roads, about four and a half hours of daylight at the start of the month and about seven by the end. It is one of the strongest months for the northern lights, quiet at every major site, and the start of Þorri, the old midwinter month. Plan one main outing a day, and more as the month goes on.
Daylight in January
Sunrise and sunset near Selfoss, about an hour southeast of Reykjavík:
- 1 January: sunrise 11:13, sunset 15:41. About four and a half hours.
- 15 January: sunrise 10:49, sunset 16:17. About five and a half hours.
- 31 January: sunrise 10:06, sunset 17:08. About seven hours.
Early and late January are different trips. The first week feels like December. The last week has room for a full Golden Circle day without hurrying.
What the weather is like
January is more likely than November to give actual winter. Snow on the fields, ice on the waterfalls, and clear, cold days between storms. It is also a month of strong wind, and conditions change within hours.
Plan to lose at least half a day to weather. Highland roads are closed, and Þórsmörk is out of reach until summer.
Driving in January
The main roads around Selfoss are paved and cleared, but snow, ice and darkness are normal conditions in January, not exceptions.
- Check road.is and safetravel.is before every drive, and again before the drive back.
- Start at first light and finish before dark.
- Keep the drive home short. From a base near Selfoss, the Golden Circle and the south coast waterfalls are each about an hour away.
- Leave a spare day. Storms can close Hellisheiði, the plateau between Reykjavík and Selfoss, and sections of Ring Road 1.
At Reynisfjara, sneaker waves arrive without warning and have killed visitors. Stay well up the beach and never turn your back on the sea.
The northern lights in January
January nights are long, dark and often clear between weather systems. That makes it one of the better months for the northern lights. Cloud remains the deciding factor, and no night is guaranteed.
360 Hotel Boutique & Spa sits on a hilltop with an open horizon in every direction and no light pollution. Wherever the lights appear, they can be seen from the property. Aurora tours drive their guests from Reykjavík to within ten kilometers (six miles) of the hotel. Here, the drive is already done.
Þrettándinn and Þorri
January has two Icelandic traditions worth knowing.
Þrettándinn, 6 January. The thirteenth day of Christmas and the official end of the season. The last of the Yule Lads returns to the mountains, and bonfires and fireworks mark the night in many towns.
Þorri, from late January. The old Icelandic midwinter month begins on Bóndadagur, the Friday in the thirteenth week of winter, which falls on 22 January in 2027. It is the season of þorrablót, midwinter feasts of traditional preserved food: soured, smoked and cured. Few visitors try all of it. Most try some.
What to do near Selfoss in January
Within minutes. Urriðafoss, Iceland's most voluminous waterfall, five minutes from the hotel. Miðbær Selfoss, the rebuilt historic center, about fifteen minutes away, reached by the hotel's complimentary house car, subject to availability.
Within an hour. The Golden Circle, with Þingvellir (Thingvellir), Geysir and Gullfoss. Gullfoss in January is often partly frozen, and the upper path can be icy, so wear proper footwear. Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss on the south coast, also about an hour away.
Later in the month. As the days lengthen, a full south coast day toward Vík, up to about two hours each way, becomes possible again. Go early, and go only on a clear forecast.
When the day is short, the hotel is the trip
Even at the end of January, seventeen hours of the day are dark. That time is spent where you sleep, and it decides the trip as much as any waterfall.
The spa at 360 Hotel Boutique & Spa is included in the room rate. Outdoor pools, a cold plunge, an outdoor sauna cabin and an outdoor infrared cabin, with an adults-only quiet zone with day beds, a gym and a yoga room. Warm water and falling snow. Cold air, a black sky, the plunge if you want it.
Inside, there is a private cinema room, a library, board games, a billiard table and Móri's Winter Garden, a glass-walled room looking out over the countryside. Hnaus, the hotel's restaurant, is open to everyone, so dinner needs no drive.
Choose fewer stops. You will see more of the country, not less.
Plan your stay
January is the month people book last. It is also the month the light starts coming back, the sites are quiet, and the nights are long enough to wait for the sky. At 360 Hotel Boutique & Spa, winter is not something to get through. It is the reason to come.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of daylight does Iceland have in January?
Near Selfoss in South Iceland, 1 January has about four and a half hours of daylight (sunrise 11:13, sunset 15:41). By 31 January it is about seven hours (sunrise 10:06, sunset 17:08). The day grows by more than two and a half hours across the month.
Is January a good time to visit Iceland?
Yes, for travelers who want winter scenery, quiet sites and long nights for the northern lights. Expect snow, ice and storms. Plan one main outing a day, allow a spare day for weather, and check road.is before every drive.
Can you see the northern lights in Iceland in January?
Yes. January is one of the better months for the northern lights because the nights are long and dark. Sightings depend on clear skies and solar activity, so no night is guaranteed. Dark countryside locations away from Reykjavík, such as near Selfoss, give a better chance.
Is it safe to drive in Iceland in January?
The main roads in South Iceland are paved and cleared, but snow, ice, wind and darkness are normal. Check road.is and safetravel.is before driving, drive in daylight where possible, and keep a spare day in case storms close roads such as Hellisheiði.
What is Þorrablót?
Þorrablót is an Icelandic midwinter feast held during Þorri, the old month that begins on Bóndadagur in late January (22 January in 2027). Traditional dishes include soured, smoked and cured meats and fish. Feasts continue into February.